Space & Astronomy

ISS supply rocket explodes after liftoff

By T.K. Randall
October 29, 2014 ·  81 comments

The rocket turned in to a fireball seconds after liftoff. Image Credit: NASA Built by Orbital Sciences Corp, the 14-story Antares rocket had blasted off from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia when a malfunction caused it to burst in to flames.

Nobody was hurt in the incident however officials have so far been unable to determine what went wrong.

The rocket had been carrying a Cygnus cargo ship filled with supplies bound for the International Space Station.

"There was no cargo that was absolutely critical to us that was lost on that flight," said NASA Associate Administrator William Gerstenmaier. "The crew is in no danger."

An investigation in to the incident is now underway.

Source: Reuters | Comments (81)

Tags: Antares, Rocket, ISS, NASA